Local
Law # 1 of 2009
"Rapid Entry System"
Adopted
January 20, 2009
Section
1. Legislative Intent.
The Village of Oriskany Falls has
recognized the importance of providing the Village of Oriskany Falls
Volunteer Fire Department rapid entry into locked
buildings. The delay in gaining entry can result in substantial property
damage, the potential for rapid-fire extension and increased danger for the
fire fighters. To assist the Fire Department in gaining rapid entry, the
Village of Oriskany Falls Board of Trustees adopts a Fire Department Rapid
Entry Knox Box System Local Law.
Section
2. Definitions.
FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM- A system or assembly of piping,
valves, controls and sprinklers which are designed and installed to comply with
the NFPA standards, which utilize water, foam, CO2 or other gas to
automatically react to suppress fire.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM- Equipment which automatically
actuates a fire alarm when the detecting element is exposed to fire, smoke,
abnormal rise or decrease in temperature or activation or a sprinkler system or
manually activated device.
APPROVED LOCK BOX- A high security key vault, that
meets the UL listed Knox rapid Entry System. Locks shall be keyed to the key
configuration provided by the Village
of Oriskany
Falls Fire Department.
TAMPER BOX SWITCH- An eternal switch connected to Knox box that when opened a signal is sent
to the Fire Alarm System in the building notifying the occupant or alarm
company that the box has been opened.
KNOX COMPANY- Approved company to supply Lock
Boxes (Knox Box) for the Rapid Entry
System used by the Oriskany Falls Volunteer Fire Department.
Section
3. Applicability.
A.) The
owner or person in control of the following types of buildings shall install
and maintain a Fire Department Lock Box (Knox Box) approved by the Village of
Oriskany Falls.
1.) Any apartment building or other rental
building containing Four (4)
or more residential living units and
in which access to the building or to the common areas or mechanical or
electrical rooms within the building is denied through locked doors.
2.) Any non-residential building where a
fire detection or suppression system is monitored by an alarm company or has an
external audible alarm.
3.) Any building or facility containing a
quantity of hazardous materials which would require compliance with III of SARA
(Superfund Amendment reauthorization Act).
4.) Any Building or facility required by the
Village of Oriskany Falls Codes Enforcement Officer
or Fire Chief.
B.)
Persons or entities who own existing buildings or structures which are subject
to the requirements of this chapter shall have one year from the effective date
of this Law to comply with the requirements. Persons or entities who construct
buildings or structures which would be subject to the requirements of this
chapter shall comply with the requirements at the time of the construction.
Section
4. Installation Requirements.
A.) The
owner of applicable buildings, as described in Section 3, shall install or
cause to be installed a Lock Box System prior to the issuance of a Certificate
of Occupancy for any portion of the building for new or remodeled construction.
B.) The
Lock Box shall be installed on the front of the building near the main entry
door and between (5) five and (8) eight feet above the ground, unless approved
at a higher or lower level by the Code Enforcement of the Village of Oriskany
Falls.
Section
5. Lock Box Keys Required.
The
owner or person in control of buildings or facilities described in Section 3 required
to have a Fire Department Lock Box (Knox Box) System cause to be placed in such
Fire Department Rapid Entry System a key to the following areas:
1.) Locked points of access, egress whether
interior or exterior of the building or facility;
2.) Locked points of access to common areas,
such as hallways or utility rooms, contained within such building or
facilities;
3.) Locked mechanical rooms;
4.) Locked electrical rooms;
5.) Elevator
Control Keys/Elevator Control
Room Keys;
6.) Any
fence or secure areas;
7. A card containing the emergency contact
people and numbers for such building;
8.) Keys to pull stations or Fire Protection
devices;
9.) All other locked areas directed by the Village of Oriskany Falls Codes Enforcement Officer
or Fire Chief.
Section
6. Access.
The owner or person in control of
any building or facility described in Section 3 required to have a Fire
Department Rapid Entry System (Knox Box) shall be present, himself or through
his agent, during access to such Unit by the Fire Department or Codes
Enforcement Officer except when the Fire Department has responded to an
emergency at the property.
Section
7. Rules and Regulations.
The Village of Oriskany Falls
Fire Department Chief may establish rules and
regulations for the placement and maintenance of the Fire Department Rapid
Entry System (Knox Box) within the Village, including approved types of Fire
Department Rapid Entry System (Knox Box). Proposed rules and regulations will
be filed with the Village Clerk.
Section
8. Update of Keys and Information.
The owner or person in control of
any building or facility described in Section 3 required to have a Fire
Department Rapid Entry System (Knox Box) shall do the following:
1.) Provide keys capable of access to such
Fire Department Lock Box (Knox Box) at all times to the Fire Department.
2.) Maintain current information of
hazardous materials stored in the building or facility in the Fire Department
Lock Box (Knox Box) or, if the volume of material is too large to place in the
unit, shall file said information with the Chief.
Section
9. Limitation of Liability.
The Village assumes no liability for
any of the following:
1.) Any defects in the operation of the Fire
Department Repository Unit, of any of the keys contained within such unit or
any information stored within the Unit or otherwise provided to the Village;
2.) The failure or neglect to respond
appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from an alarm system;
3.) The failure or neglect of any owner or
person in control of a building or facility required to have a Fire Department
Repository Unit to provide access to the Unit; or
4.) The security of any property required to
have a Fire Department Repository Unit due to access to the Unit by any person.
Amendment
of Provisions.
The Village of Oriskany Falls Board
of Trustees may from time to time, amend, supplement, change, modify or repeal
this law pursuant to the provisions of the Village Law and the general
Municipal law applicable there to.
Effective
Date.
This law shall become effective
immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.
